On August 29, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan had a meeting with Dunja Mijatović, Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe. The meeting took place on the sidelines of Minister Mirzoyan’s visit to the Bled Strategic Forum in Slovenia.
The interlocutors emphasized the humanitarian crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh, dire conditions of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh and human rights violations resulting from Azerbaijan’s ongoing 8-months-long blockade and total siege since June 15, as well as the urgency of overcoming the situation. The Foreign Minister noted that by its actions Azerbaijan openly demonstrates its real goal - to subject the people of Nagorno-Karabakh to ethnic cleansing.
Foreign Minister of Armenia appreciated the statements of the Commissioner for Human Rights of the CoE regarding the humanitarian situation in Nagorno-Karabakh voiced the day before, as well as since the blockade of the Lachine corridor, emphasizing the need for unimpeded implementation of possible steps within the framework of the Commissioner's mandate and CoE tools.
Effective cooperation of Armenia with the Office of the Commissioner of the CoE in matters of human rights protection was also touched upon.